By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Editor's Note: It's been a busy summer, but I'm going to try to get back to updating Ask the Torch more frequently from now on, so keep the questions coming and thanks for your patience!

PWTorch.com reader Adrian L. Finley of Oklahoma City, Okla. asks: I was wondering what is the deal with Shelton Benjamin's current string of jobbing? Did he upset upper management? He went from stealing the show at WM21 and having a stellar match against Shawn Michaels to this. Is there a reason for this?

WK: I've heard nothing at all of Shelton having any heat with management. The thing holding him back right now is that it's perceived that he can't cut a "money promo" at this point. WWE management, though, sees him as a real asset down the line, and are just being patient as he continues to mature as a character.

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PWTorch.com reader Robert Taylor of Randleman N.C.: According to news reports, all broadcast networks (including UPN) will be showing live the benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Since the concert will be on air for at least one hour, how will this affect the scheduled premiere of Friday Night Smackdown? Will the show be postponed or condensed to a one-hour version? Finally, what has been the reaction by the WWE to any changes to this highly advertised show?

WK: There's not much WWE can do about it, and they can hardly complain given the circumstances of the preemption of the first hour. Smackdown will air as a two hour show outside of the U.S. in the usual timeslots. In the U.S., the show may be joined "in progress," and I'm sure it would be formatted tonight in a manner that featured the two key matches (JBL-Batista, Eddie-Rey) took place in that second hour. The other option is to create a second version of Smackdown specifically for the U.S. market where there are highlights of what happened in the first hour so viewers don't feel completely in the dark.

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PWTorch.com reader T.J. asks: With Smackdown moving to Fridays, I know I won't watch the show as often. Will there be a weekend recap version of Smackdown where I can still follow the storylines?

WK: No, there won't be a weekend version of Smackdown. In fact, USA Network doesn't want the Saturday morning show - the only weekend show now that Heat and Velocity are being cancelled - to feature any Smackdown talent. They don't want to promote talent that is otherwise featured on a show exclusively on a competing network. That means the only way WWE has to promote Smackdown house shows and PPVs is on Smackdown itself on Fridays or their syndicated show. It could be a big below to the Smackdown-brand house shows and PPVs.

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Marcus J. Allen of Seattle, Wash. asks: With all the WWE stars from the past returning and making guest appearances, why hasn't Macho Man Randy Savage been invited back? To my knowledge he has never drew the ire of Vince McMahon, nor has he been a cancer. He didn't jump to WCW for the big contract during the early 1990s and didn't have a problem putting guys over, nor taking a step aside for the so-called "New Generation." He didn't leave until November 1994 when he and WWE couldn't agree on a contract.

WK: Vince McMahon is upset at Randy Savage. In a recently posted Torch Newsletter back issue in the Torch VIP section, there is a news item about how during a creative meeting someone brought up Savage's name, and McMahon made it clear his name was not to be brought up in the future. He says that about very few people. Savage's departure from WWE did upset McMahon, even though WCW offered Savage more money and a chance to be a top level wrestler. There have been rumors for years that something else happened behind the scenes with Savage and McMahon that really upset McMahon, but I honestly have never had any specific rumor verified on or off record.

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Background on Torch editor Wade Keller: Torch editor Wade Keller founded Pro Wrestling Torch in September 1987. He has been interviewed as a wrestling expert by dozens of TV and radio stations across the country; he has also been quoted in dozens of major newspapers and magazines across the world. Media entities that have featured Keller in stories covering wrestling include National Public Radio, Fox News Channel, ESPN Magazine, the New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, the All-News Channel, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He also hosted his own weekly two hour wrestling talk show on KFAN sport radio in the '90s. Over the past 17 years Keller has also interviewed, one-on-one, wrestling's top names for in-depth "Torch Talks" and feature articles including powerbrokers such as Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Watts, Jim Cornette, Jim Crockett, Jim Herd, Paul Heyman, Ed Ferrara, Terry Taylor, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Ross, and Vince Russo; top wrestling stars such as The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Matt & Jeff Hardy, Rick Steamboat, Jerry Lawler, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan; and legends such as Lou Thesz, Gordon Solie, Bruno Sammartino, Roy Shires, Terry Funk, and Verne Gagne.

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